Chapter 372
**Chapter 370: Letting the Child Venture Far**
Liangzhou was remote, plagued by wind and sand year-round, and rife with bandits. Li Chengyou, a noble prince, faced unimaginable consequences should he encounter misfortune.
Li Yuanjing promised Li Chengyou that he could train in the southern military camps. Yet, Li Chengyou, stubborn as ever, insisted on going to Liangzhou.
The father and son remained at an impasse for over half a year, with no resolution in sight.
Li Chengyou even sought the Empress Dowager's help. She had always doted on this grandson and, fearing the hardships he might face outside, firmly opposed the idea.
As for Shen Wei, she preferred to stay out of the father-son dispute, choosing to remain in the background.
Time did not diminish Li Chengyou's yearning; the seed of his desire to go to Liangzhou had taken root in his heart. Thus, he approached Shen Wei once more for assistance, believing that if the Empress Dowager spoke up, perhaps his father would relent!
In the pavilion, Shen Wei sipped fragrant lotus leaf tea, her gaze sweeping over her son's dark little face. "The southern military is quite good. Your father spent time there in his youth and gained much from it."
Li Chengyou shook his head defiantly. "No! I want to go to Liangzhou!"
Shen Wei: ...
Where did this stubbornness come from?
Shen Wei reminisced about a few years ago—when the children were young, each one soft and adorable, obedient and understanding. As they grew older, they became like wild horses, unable to be contained within the palace walls, always wanting to break free.
Le You would sneak out of the palace every few days, Cheng Tai would rummage through the records at the Ministry of Justice daily, and Cheng You was always clamoring to go to Liangzhou.
Sigh—
Shen Wei felt exhausted.
She gestured for Li Chengyou to sit beside her and spoke gently, "Liangzhou is far away, with scarce resources. Life in the military is extremely tough. You’ve been pampered in the palace; how could you endure the hardships of Liangzhou?"
Li Chengyou puffed out his little chest and raised his chin. "A man should be able to endure hardships! Mother, you taught me that one must endure suffering to rise above others!"
After a pause, Li Chengyou lowered his head and quietly confided to Shen Wei, "Mother, I want to leave the palace, not just because I long for Liangzhou, but also to distance myself from court politics."
It was clear to anyone with eyes that the next emperor of the Qing Kingdom would be chosen between Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou.
Deep down, Li Chengyou also harbored ambitions of becoming a formidable emperor.
But he knew his brother was more suited for the role.
Since childhood, Li Chengyou had admired his brother and did not want to create a rift that could lead to a tragic fallout between them. In the royal family, brothers should support each other and protect the people; how could they let the struggle for the throne drive them apart?
Li Chengyou chose to step back.
Yet, there were always scheming ministers in the court who sought to drive a wedge between Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou. Whenever Li Chengyou ventured outside the palace, he would encounter ministers eager to support him, their insincere faces making him feel disgusted.
Their so-called loyalty was anything but genuine. They merely wanted to see Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou in conflict, hoping to benefit from the chaos.
After much contemplation, Li Chengyou decided to distance himself from Yanjing City and train in the distant Liangzhou, cutting off the twisted ambitions of certain ministers in the court.
He tugged at Shen Wei's sleeve, pleading, "Mother, please help me."
Shen Wei sighed inwardly.
The outside world labeled the Ninth Prince as honest and straightforward, lacking the cleverness of the Eighth Prince. But Shen Wei knew her youngest son was not simple-minded; he was wise beyond his years.
She ruffled his hair, and Li Chengyou obediently lowered his head, resembling a well-behaved little wolfdog.
Shen Wei spoke softly, "I can persuade your father to let you go to Liangzhou."
Li Chengyou's eyes lit up with surprise as he looked up, his dark pupils shining. "Really?"
He was overjoyed.
As long as his mother spoke up, his father would likely agree!
Over the years, it was well-known in the court that the Emperor and Empress shared a deep bond. If Shen Wei wanted the stars from the sky, the Emperor would find a way to bring them down.
Shen Wei earnestly told him, "If you go to Liangzhou as a prince, people will fear you and cater to you, making it hard for you to grow. If you truly want to train, you should go incognito and start as a common soldier."
Flowers in a greenhouse are too delicate. Only by blooming in the wild, enduring the wind and rain, can they become resilient.
Li Chengyou grinned, revealing eight pearly white teeth. "Alright! I promise, Mother! I’ll start as a common soldier and follow my uncle to protect our homeland!"
With Shen Wei's promise, Li Chengyou happily took his leave and ran off to practice martial arts.
In the pavilion, Shen Wei savored her lotus leaf tea, lost in thought.
Who in the court wanted to sow discord between Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou?
...
...
As night fell, Li Yuanjing returned to Yongning Palace under the moonlight.
The summer nights were stifling, but Shen Wei had placed an ice basin in the room, keeping the sleeping quarters free of mosquitoes and pleasantly cool.
Li Yuanjing lifted the beaded curtain and stepped into the chamber. The palace lamps illuminated the room brightly, and the light green bed curtains were drawn back. Shen Wei, with her long hair cascading over her shoulders, leaned against the headboard, engrossed in a storybook.
As Li Yuanjing changed into his nightclothes, he said to Shen Wei, "Le You snuck out of the palace again today, off to hunt in the southern mountains! She didn’t return until dark—what a reckless child!"
Shen Wei didn’t look up, turning a page of her book, and replied nonchalantly, "If you confine her for two days, she’ll behave."
Li Yuanjing could never bear to confine his daughter.
Despite his attempts to sternly reprimand her, Le You paid him no mind. She was a master at charming adults, even cooking up a delicious "pan rabbit stew" from the wild rabbits she caught, presenting it to Li Yuanjing with a smile.
The rabbit meat was tender and tasty, and his daughter was dutiful.
All of Li Yuanjing's anger dissipated completely.
His scolding had no effect, and the Empress Dowager continued to indulge and spoil her granddaughter. Among the entire harem, only Shen Wei could manage Le You.
Li Yuanjing came to Shen Wei to complain, hoping she could rein in their daughter.
Shen Wei turned a page of her book. "The palace is stifling; the child wants to see the outside world. It’s only natural. Just have the Tiger Guards protect her in secret; there’s no need to make a fuss."
Li Yuanjing sat beside Shen Wei, adjusting the glass lamp on the bedside to cast a brighter light for her to read by.
He set the lamp down and continued his complaint, "Of course, I won’t stop Le You from going out. But that boy from the Liang family is always sticking to her like a burr. He’s got ulterior motives!"
Now Shen Wei understood.
Li Yuanjing wasn’t angry about Le You sneaking out; he was furious about that little brat following her around.
The royal family’s prized daughter was at risk of being taken advantage of.
Shen Wei advised Li Yuanjing, "The children are growing up; marriage should happen naturally. If Le You takes a liking to that boy from the Liang family, then let them marry. In my opinion, he’s quite a catch—good at riding, archery, and martial arts. This spring, he even went to Yanzhou to join the army and bravely fought against bandits."
Yanjing City was the capital of the Qing Kingdom, filled with high-ranking officials and wealthy families. Most young masters were pampered and well-educated, rarely engaging in martial pursuits.
Liang Huichuan, the youngest son of the Minister of War, was only about fifteen or sixteen years old. Despite his privileged background, he was grounded and hardworking, which was quite rare.
Shen Wei had a good impression of the boy.
If Le You were to fall for him, their marriage would be a delightful match.
"No way! I absolutely will not allow Le You to be promised to that little rascal!" Li Yuanjing was adamant.
In his middle age, with a beard grown in, Li Yuanjing had become a mature emperor. He was well-versed in the ways of ruling, commanding respect without raising his voice.
But privately, he occasionally revealed a hint of childishness, getting worked up over a boy of fifteen or sixteen.
Shen Wei said, "If you truly dislike the boy from the Liang family, just send him south to lead troops. Why go around in circles?"
Li Yuanjing frowned. "That won’t do. Such an action would make me seem petty!"
Shen Wei clicked her tongue, ignoring the emperor's pettiness. She placed her half-read book on the bedside table, lay back down, and prepared to rest.
In the summer, Shen Wei had laid a layer of cool jade mat on the bed. Lying down felt refreshingly cool, dispelling the heat. She nestled against a soft golden silk pillow, and Li Yuanjing lay down beside her.
He was still fuming over the Liang boy, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Just as Shen Wei was dozing off, she was awakened by Li Yuanjing's restlessness.
She opened her eyes sleepily and nudged his leg with her foot. "Your Majesty, if you can’t sleep, why not go pull some weeds in the vegetable garden?"
After years of sharing a bed, their relationship had gradually settled into that of an "old married couple."
Li Yuanjing couldn’t bear to be apart from Shen Wei and had grown increasingly tolerant of her; he often deferred to her opinions on trivial matters. Shen Wei, in turn, was no longer as calculating or restrained as before, and life had become much more relaxed.
They spoke their minds freely, never holding back.
Li Yuanjing didn’t go to the vegetable garden; instead, he grasped Shen Wei’s hand tightly, trying to persuade her, "Weiwei, talk to Le You tomorrow. This is a matter of her future; it can’t be taken lightly."
Shen Wei’s eyes sparkled as she nodded in agreement. "Alright. I’ll call Le You over tomorrow and tell her not to go hunting in the southern mountains with that boy from the Liang family anymore."
Li Yuanjing’s eyes brightened with joy. "Really?"
Shen Wei replied leisurely, "Of course. But Your Majesty must promise me one thing."
As long as it meant getting rid of the Liang boy, Li Yuanjing would agree to any condition.
Shen Wei then recounted the events of Li Chengyou’s visit for help earlier that day.
"I know you care for Chengyou, but a young man’s ambitions lie beyond the palace walls. He shouldn’t be confined to the royal court. Let him go to Liangzhou."
The room was filled with a cool fragrance, and Li Yuanjing’s expression turned serious as he shook his head after a long pause. "No."
He could concede on small matters, but sending their child to the border was not a trivial decision.
Shen Wei’s cool gaze fell on Li Yuanjing’s face. Suddenly, she threw off her thin silk quilt, got out of bed, put on her shoes, and took a red cloak from the rack—
With fluid movements, Shen Wei stormed out.
"Where are you going, Weiwei?" Li Yuanjing called after her.
"To Cining Palace to keep the Empress Dowager company."
Outside, the night had fallen, and the bright moonlight enveloped Yongning Palace. Shen Wei, draped in her thin cloak, appeared slender from behind.
Li Yuanjing hurried after her, catching her in his arms.
He closed the chamber door and carried Shen Wei back to the bed. Her fingers brushed against the edge of the bed, and she let out a soft "ouch."
Li Yuanjing quickly grasped her hand, checking for injuries. "Where did you bump it? Let me see."
Shen Wei withdrew her hand, glaring at him in annoyance.
Li Yuanjing rubbed his forehead, lowering his voice. "You’re too old for this! Acting like a child! If the kids find out, it’ll be embarrassing."
Shen Wei retorted, "Tomorrow, I’m moving to Cining Palace for good! You can sleep wherever you like, but don’t come to disturb me."
Over the years, Li Yuanjing and Shen Wei had had their share of conflicts, enduring several cold wars.
These were all trivial matters, and they would argue at the head of the bed but make up at the foot.
Li Yuanjing had grown accustomed to their life together, and he found it difficult to sleep alone at night. Without Shen Wei by his side, he felt anxious.
Hearing Shen Wei’s intention to move to Cining Palace, Li Yuanjing’s expression darkened.
He pushed Shen Wei back onto the bed, trying to reason with her. "I don’t want to stop the children from going out. It’s just that Liangzhou is remote, and there have been frequent incursions by the barbarians in recent years. Chengyou is only twelve; his skills are still immature. If something were to happen to him in Liangzhou, wouldn’t we be heartbroken?"
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Moreover, as a prince, his identity was special, and there would always be numerous dangers lurking when he ventured outside.
Shen Wei replied, "A sword’s edge is honed through hardship. We can’t keep the child sheltered under the emperor’s wing forever. One day, we will grow old, and the children must experience the world."
Li Yuanjing fell silent.
He knew Shen Wei was right.
But Chengyou was still his most cherished son. The thought of him venturing out at such a young age, facing potential dangers... Li Yuanjing couldn’t bear to think further.
Among the princes of the Da Qing, only Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou showed promise. The others were timid and weak, unfit for great responsibilities.
An exceptional prince was a rare find. Losing a talented prince would be a loss for the Qing Kingdom.
Seeing Li Yuanjing remain silent, Shen Wei patiently continued, "Your Majesty, when you were young, you also left the capital to train, despite the Empress Dowager’s objections. You should understand Chengyou’s feelings best."
The room fell quiet, with the sound of crickets chirping outside. Li Yuanjing recalled the past, his childhood, and the late emperor.
In that moment, he suddenly understood Chengyou.
Years ago, Li Yuanjing had been a young prince, believing his elder brother would inherit the throne. To prevent any rifts between them, he sought to distance himself from court intrigues.
As a boy, he had yearned for battles and glory, begging the late emperor and the Empress Dowager to let him train in the southern military.
After much pleading, the late emperor and the Empress Dowager had refused.
At that time, he thought his father was unreasonable and stubborn, preventing him from pursuing a broader horizon. For a long while, he harbored resentment toward his father.
Now, as a father himself, Li Yuanjing suddenly understood his own father’s feelings.
It wasn’t a lack of understanding; it was fear of something happening to his child.
For parents, allowing their young child to venture far was a form of emotional torment.
With a long sigh, Li Yuanjing’s thoughts swirled, and he finally softened his stance. He said to Shen Wei, "Very well, I agree to let Chengyou go to Liangzhou."
Only then did Shen Wei smile and lean against Li Yuanjing, softly saying, "I hope the children will be safe all their lives."
...
...
Under the same moonlight, in the secluded Xiangyun Hall of the palace's rear courtyard, the candlelight flickered dimly.
Liu Qiaoer lay in bed, troubled and unable to sleep.
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